Chief Simeon Chickalusion Potlach 2019

Susitna Station was a Village in Dena’Ina country that was badly affected by tuberculosis in the 1930’s. Six hundred people lived in Susitna Station before the tuberculosis outbreak and and only eleven of those people survived. Chief Simeon Chickalusion rescued and relocated the remaining people left in Susitna Station to Tyonek in 1934.

This Potlach is being held to honor Chief Chikalusion’s memory and what he did so many years ago for the Dena’Ina people. Because of who he was and what he did for the people this Potlatch is made extra special by inviting a dance group from each respected Athabascan region here in Alaska: The Gwitch”In, Koyukon, Ahtna, Kenaitze and Dena’Ina will come together to share their songs and dances with each other. With all dance groups having there own songs and dialects it will make it a Potlatch to always remember.